Image and text provided by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

A train was just making up. Anempty freight car attracted Mm. Thechalk marks on its outside told himthat it was city-bound.At each end of the car was a heapof straw, evidently the former covering of a brick shipment. The trainhad started and Justus had begun afrugal lunch, when there was a rustle in the heap of straw at the otherend of the car. A frowzy-headed fellow emerged from the impromptucouch with, the words:"Hey, old pard! That looks goodand I'm hungry.""Then you're welcome to all youdan eat," answered Justus brightly,and his fellow traveler fell to with avengeance.He was a good-natured, rovingtramp, one of the Sort that appreciates a kindness, and during the nexttwo hours he regaled Justus withmany an interesting recital of uniqueexperiences.They had got well out into thecountry and Justus was seated nearto the half-open door, his companionlying on his back smoking, whenthere was an ominous jar.The train had' suddenly let up onspeed. At the shock Justus glancedbeyond the door. His eyes bulged.Ahead, near a bridge where the railscurved, he saw half a dozen carsswerve out and go down an 'embankment. "Jump!" he almost screamed, grabbing at the tramp and pulling him tohis feet.Head over heels both went- tumbling down the grass-clad embankment. They sat up at its bottomsomewhat bruised, to stare in awe asthe car they had left met the jamahead and was splintered to fragments. "I say!" shuddered the iramp, "yougrabbed me just in time. Thanks!"Two hours later the queerlymatched twain stood near the centerof the wreck, interested in what theysaw. A great car full of grain had leftjhe track, striking a rocky embankment, Its golden contents scattered !over the ground like an exhaustedavalanche. 'The wrecking train and an inspector had arrived. The tramp had beenacting in a reflective and calculativemanner for some time."Wish I had a fair cash stake," heobserved longingly."What's the idea?" questioned Justus. "Why, there's the inspector goingover things. I've been in this kind ofwrecks before. See that car ofgrain?""Yes?""And the wrecked chicken car with 'about half its freight killed? Well,that's wreck salvage, hard for thecompany to handle. If I was a speculator I'd buy the stuff offhand. Itcan be got for a trifle.""But what would you do with it?""Well, by hook or crook I'd find isome old shed or barn that I could.rent and take care of the truck.""Look here," said Justus, after a -moment'smeditation, "I have a littlecash. If you think there is somethingto be made here, I'll invest""You will," cried the tramp read-ily. "Leave It to me, then."He was gone an hour and cameback with shining eyes."Say," he reported, "I'm able tomake a dandy arrangement to starta regular chicken farm. Now, let medicker with the inspector."Seventy dollars would buy the salvage, provided the screened boxes ofthe chicken cars were denuded oftheir contents within twenty-fourhours.What an afternoon and night theyhad of it! Less than half a mile distant the tramp had located a littlecabin that had been vacated by itsowner for a more pretentious residence. It bad sheds and a stable.Its owner would lease the outfit fora trifle. By noon the next day 1,800live chickens had been transported tothe new "chicken farm." The grainthey could remove at their leisuresafcafe4J5SiK:jjssauemmm